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Destination Weddings Discussions
Lwaryjas
member
How to transport your dress for a destination wedding. Can you bring it as a carry-on, on the plane?
Im having a destination wedding and want to know if anyone has ever had an issue bringing their dress on an airplane? I went for a few bridal appointments and they said the stewardess typically will hold it for you and put it in the cock pit or something and then give it back when you get off the plan. Apparently its customary to give them chocolates for holding the dress. Has anyone ever heard of this??
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Re: How to transport your dress for a destination wedding. Can you bring it as a carry-on, on the plane?
Yes I brought my dress as a carry on (in the dress bag) from Europe to US and back and then on a cheapo flight within Europe. It was not problem at all.
Heather
I've heard that they flight attendants will usually put in up front somewhere for you (in closet or something)... and I've been on flights with other brides and seen them do that. I've also seen posts online about people just laying it out flat in the overhead bin (attendants probably would rather hang it up than use up all that bin space) or even buying an extra seat just for the dress (not really necessary). I've also heard you should make sure you check-in early so you can be one of the first to board, to help ensure they have space for it, just in case coat closets fill up or something. But, I've never seen anyone have a problem with it... all the airlines are usually very accommodating.
For mine, when I was looking for plane tickets, it just happened to work out that a first class ticket was only about $100 more than coach on my flight, so I upgraded... figuring that I know they have first class coat closet I can put it in (they would put the dress there even if I had coach ticket, but that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). Plus, it's my wedding trip, so I deserve a little luxury... especially since I'm travelling alone. FI is going on a trip with his dad and joining a few days later, but one of us needs to be there a few days early to apply for the marriage license.
That was part of my thinking too. My dress is organza which is cool, lightweight, and doesn't wrinkle very easily.
I recently saw a post on a different site where a bride said she had to roll up her dress and put it in overhead bin, because she flew Southwest which doesn't have closets. She was worried it would be very wrinkled, but was very surprised that it was in perfect condition afterward. So, it may be a good idea to look into standard travel tips to avoid wrinkling. I know I've seen where it's good to tightly roll, instead of fold, clothes to avoid wrinkles. It makes sense that it would be the same with dress. I've also seen to fold/roll it up with tissue paper or plastic bags to avoid wrinkling. With the many layers of the dress, it may be a good idea to plan for several layers of tissue, not necessary between each layer though.
So, it may be a good idea to plan ahead and be prepared to put some of these tricks in action if they don't let you hang it, like already having tissue paper or plastic bags (large trash bags?) layered in the dress. That way it won't cause as much stress if hanging isn't an option, and would probably be helpful to avoid wrinkles from being squished in a closet too.
Usually flights with first class seats will have a closet. Usually the closet is there mainly for first-class use. Generally the "budget" airlines won't have closets available. It will also vary by airplane size within the airline. Smaller, local flights usually won't have a closet.
Here is a list I found of airlines that don't have first class, so therefore probably won't have closets available:
Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Virgin, Allegient
I can't guarantee that these do or don't have closets, but its a place to start.
I don't think the airline will matter (unless it's one that has a closet versus one that does not.) It's going to be based on what flight crew is working the flight.
So I ended up calling the airline we are flying a month ago and what the rep said to me is if there is space when you get on the plane then you may or may not be able to put it in the closet. Thankfully my FI has platinum status with the airline we are flying so I hope we do not have issues.